Pencil pointer



Oct. 4, 1966 v DORSTEWITZ I 3,276,434

PENCIL POINTER Filed July 26, 1965 j I. ENTOR.

wry/713170 r5 fe w/fz @MWWL/f AT TO RN El United States Patent 3,276,434PENCIL POINTER Virgil D. Dorstewitz, Coloma, Mich., assignor to TruPoint Products, Inc., Coloma, Mich. Filed July 26, 1965, Ser. No.474,838 13 Claims. (Cl. 12091) This invention relates to pencilpointers. The main objects of this invention are,

First, to provide a pencil pointer which is highly efficient in use anddoes not require the use of gears, or other driving or connecting parts.

Second, to provide a pencil sharpener which does not require specialcare on the part of the user in sharpening pencils of commonly usedtypes and of widely varying degrees of hardness.

Third, to provide a pencil sharpener in which the sharpening member orelement may be quickly removed and replaced in the event that it becomesdesirable because of wear resulting from use.

Fourth, to provide a pencil sharpener in which the body portion of thesharpening member is formed of non-rustable or non-corrodable materialsuch for example as thermoplastic materials.

Fifth, to provide a pencil sharpener having these advantages which isportable and is adapted to be positioned on various types of supports asmay be desired for the convenience of the user, and which is not likelyto slide even when positioned on an inclined surface.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a pencil sharpener embodying myinvention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view with the pencil holder removed, the pencil holderconstituting the top member.

FIG. 3 is a view of the body member and certain of the parts mountedtherein on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. -4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the abrasivemember.

FIG. 5 is a vertical section of the holder member for the abrasivemember.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the positioning of apencil to be sharpened.

It is desired to point out that this invention is an improvement uponand embodies certain features of the Cayo Patent 2,540,320, issuedFebruary 6, 1951, which has been commercialized.

The body member 1 is adapted to rest upon a supporting surface and hasan upwardly opening chamber 2 preferably cylindrical and in thecommercial embodiment desirably somewhat tapered. The chamber has anupwardly facing flat bottom 3. A post 4 is disposed centrally of thechamber with its lower end fixedly secured in an opening 5 providedtherefor. The upper end of the post projects substantially above the topof the body member and is provided with a threaded upper end 6 and anupwardly facing bearing 7 at the inner end of the threaded portion.

A bearing member 8, preferably provided with an upwardly projectingperipheral flange 9, is supportedly mounted on the bottom of the bodymember as is illustrated in FIG. 3, and it has a post receiving opening10 surrounded by an upwardly projecting flange 11.

A pencil holder 12 is provided with a socket 13 open at its upper andlower ends and adapted to receive a pencil as is illustrated in FIG. 6.

The top member 12 is rotatably mounted on the post 3,276,434 PatentedOct. 4, 1966 and retained thereon by the nut 14 which rotatably supportsthe pencil holder on the post and permits the rotation thereof by meansof a pencil inserted in the pencil holder 13. The abrasive element 15 ofthe embodiment illustrated is downwardly tapered and provided with anoffset portion 16 at its upper end which serves to stiffen the abrasiveelement and also serves as a stop limiting the inward movement of theabrasive element relative to the pencil holder thereby preventing theentire lead being ground away.

The abrasive element is slidably and nontiltably supported on the bottombearing member 8. The abrasive element has inwardly projecting portions18 at its lower end provided with upwardly facing seats 19 and inclinedway portions 20 extending from the seat with their lower edges merginginto the flange portions 18.

The circular abrasive member holder or coupling 22 is provided withlaterally projecting peripherally spaced lugs 23 and 24 which projectover the flange 18 but are dimensioned and spaced to permit theinsertion and removal, as well as the rotative engagement of theabrasive element with this holder member. The post is provided with anabutment 25 which is fixedly secured to the post in downwardly spacedrelation to its upper end.

The coil spring 26 is in thrust engagement with the abutment 25 and thelower end of the spring is in thrust engagement with the coupling member22, being seated in the inwardly projecting flange portion thereof. Alug 27 on the lower end of the spring projects into engagement in anotch 28 in the lug 24.

As stated, the top member 12 is removably secured to the post member 4.When it is desired to replace the abrasive element, the top member isremoved, the user can hold the holder member 22 against rotation as byengaging a pencil or other tool behind one of the lugs 23 or 24, whilerotating the abrasive element 15 to cause the lugs 23 and 24 to move outof the seats 19 and down the inclines 20 to the notches 21 and then liftoutwardly the abrasive lined cup member 15. Insertion of a new abrasivecup is accomplished by reverse sequence of these steps. It is desired topoint out that this abrasive element change is accomplished without theoperators hands touching more than the rim 16 of the abrasive cup whichremains clean as all pencil lead dust falls to the bottom of the cup andbody, below the rim 16. The abrasive element and the holder member aredesirably formed of thermoplastic material, this from the production andcost standpoint and also from the fact that such material does not rusteven though subjected to moisture.

With this arrangement of parts, the only element subjeced to wear iseasily and quickly replaced. The holder member 22 is lifted up out ofcontact with the bottom plate 8 when in use by engagement of the lugs 23and 24 with the inclined ways 20 and seats 19.

I have illustrated and described a highly desirable commercialembodiment of my invention. I have not illustrated or described variousmodifications which might be made in structural features, as thisdisclosure is such as to enable those skilled in the art to adapt myinvention for particular use conditions.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A pencil pointer comprising, a body member adapted to rest upon asupporting surface and having an upwardly opening chamber therein, thechamber having a substantially fiat bottom portion, a post fixedlysecured to the bottom of the body member and projecting above the topthereof, a bearing member supportedly disposed on the bottom of saidbody member, a pencil holder supportedly and rotatably mounted on saidpost and constituting a cover for said body member chamber and providedwith a pencil socket spaced radially from the axis of the holder andadapted to supportedly receive and guide a pencil in a circular path asthe pencil holder is rotated, 21 downwardly tapered abrasive elementopen at the top and having a continuous inner abrasive surface, saidabrasive element being slidably and nontiltably supported on saidbearing member, said abrasive element having an inwardly projectingportion on its inner end provided with upwardly facing seats, a coilspring disposed about said post and laterally swingable relativethereto, said post having an abutment for the outer end of said spring,a holder member for said abrasive element provided with a seat withwhich the inner end of said spring is in thrust engagement and havingradial lugs detachably engageable with said seats in said abrasiveelement, the opening in the bottom of said abrasive element beingdimensioned to permit the insertion and removal of the abrasive elementwithout removing the said holder member and spring, the body portion ofsaid abrasive element and said holder member being of form retainingthermoplastic material.

2. A pencil pointer comprising, a body member adapted to rest upon asupporting surface and having an upwardly opening chamber therein, thechamber having a substantially flat bottom portion, a post fixedlysecured to the bottom of the body member and projecting above the topthereof, a bearing member supportedly disposed on the bottom of saidbody member, a pencil holder supportedly and rotatably mounted on saidpost and constituting a cover for said body member chamber and providedwith a pencil socket spaced radially from the axis of the holder andadapted to supportedly receive and guide a pencil in a circular path asthe pencil holder is rotated, a downwardly tapered abrasive element openat the top and having a continuous inner abrasive surface, said abrasiveelement being slidably and nontiltably supported on said bearing member,said abrasive element having an inwardly projecting portion on its innerend provided with upwardly facing seats, a coil spring disposed aboutsaid post and laterally swingable relative thereto, said post having anabutment for the outer end of said spring, a holder member for saidabrasive element provided with a seat with which the inner end of saidspring is in thrust engagement and having radial lugs detachablyengageable with said seats in said abrasive element, the opening in thebottom of said abrasive element being dimensioned to permit theinsertion and removal of the abrasive element without removing the saidholder member and spring.

3. A pencil pointer comprising, a body member adapted to rest upon asupporting surface and having an upwardly opening chamber therein, thechamber having a substantially fiat bottom portion, a post fixedlysecured to the bottom of the body member and projecting above the topthereof, a bearing member supportedly disposed on the bottom of saidbody member in engagement with said post and provided with an upwardlyprojecting peripheral flange, a pencil holder supportedly and rotatablymounted on said post and constituting a cover for said body memberchamber and provided with a pencil socket spaced radially from the axisof the holder and adapted to supportedly receive and guide a pencil in acircular path as the pencil holder is rotated, a downwardly taperedabrasive element open at the top and having a continuous inner abrasivesurface, said abrasive element being slidably and nontiltably supportedon said bearing member, said abrasive element having an inwardlyprojecting portion on its inner end provided with upwardly facing seats,a coil spring disposed about said post and laterally swingable relativethereto, said post having an abutment for the outer end of said spring,a holder member for said abrasive element provided with a seat withwhich the inner end of said spring is in thrust engagement and havingradial lugs detachably engageable with said seats in said abrasiveelement, the opening in the bottom of said abrasive element beingdimensioned to permit the insertion and removal of the abrasive elementwithout removing the said holder member and spring.

4. A pencil pointer comprising a body member adapted to rest upon asupporting surface and having an upwardly opening chamber therein, apost fixedly secured to the bottom of the body member and projectingabove the top thereof, a pencil holder supportedly and rotatably mountedon said post and constituting a cover for said body member chamber andprovided with a pencil socket spaced radially from the axis of theholder and adapted to supportedly receive and guide a pencil in acircular path as the pencil holder is rotated, a cylindrical downwardlytapered abrasive element open at the top and having an inwardlyprojecting portion on its end provided with upwardly radially spacedseats, a coil spring disposed about and laterally swingable relative tosaid post, the outer end of said spring being supportedly connected tosaid post, a holder member for said abrasive element provided with aseat with which the inner end of said spring is thrustingly engaged andhaving radial lugs detachably engageable with said seats in saidabrasive element, the opening in the bottom of said abrasive elementbeing dimensioned to permit the insertion and removal of the abrasiveelement without removing said holder member and said spring, the bodyportion of said abrasive element and said holder member being of formretaining thermoplastic material,

5. A pencil pointer comprising a body member adapted to rest upon asupporting surface and having an upwardly opening chamber therein, apost fixedly secured to the bottom of the body member and projectingabove the top thereof, a pencil holder supportedly and rotatably mountedon said post and constituting a cover for said body member chamber andprovided with a pencil socket spaced radially from the axis of theholder and adapted to supportedly receive and guide a pencil in acircular path as the pencil holder is rotated, a cylindrical downwardlytapered abrasive element open at the top and having an inwardlyprojecting portion on its end provided with upwardly radially spacedseats, a coil spring disposed about and laterally swingable relative tosaid post, the outer end of said spring being supportedly connected tosaid post, a holder member for said abrasive element provided with aseat with which the inner end of said spring is thrustingly engaged andhaving radial lugs detachably engageable with said seats in saidabrasive element, the opening in the bottom of said abrasiveelementbeing dimensioned to permit the insertion and removal of theabrasive element without removing said holder member and said spring.

6. A pencil pointer comprising a body member having a chamber thereinopen at its outer end, a post supportedly connected to the inner end ofthe body member and projecting from the chamber, a pencil holderrotatably mounted on said post and provided with a pencil socket spacedradially from the axis of the holder and adapted to supportedly receiveand guide a pencil in a circular path as the pencil holder is rotated, acylindrical inwardly tapered abrasive element of form retainingthermoplastic material supported at its inner end in said body memberand having an opening in its inner end and being provided with outwardlyfacing radially spaced holder member seats, a spring laterally swingablerelative to said post and connected thereto at its outer end, a holdermember for said abrasive element of form retaining thermoplasticmaterial with which the inner end of said spring is in thrustengagement, said holder member and said abrasive element havingcoengaging means for releasably holding said abrasive element whilepermitting lateral shifting thereof.

7. A pencil pointer comprising a body member having a chamber thereinopen at its outer end, a post supportedly connected to the inner end ofthe body member and projecting from the chamber, a pencil holderrotatably mounted on said post and provided with a pencil socket spacedradially from the axis of the holder and adapted to supportedly receiveand guide a pencil in a circular path as the pencil holder is rotated, acylindrical inwardly tapered abrasive element supported at its inner endin said body member and having an opening in its inner end and beingprovided with outwardly facing radially spaced holder member seats, aspring laterally swingable relative to said post and connected theretoat its outer end, a holder member for said abrasive element with whichthe inner end of said spring is in thrust engagement, said holder memberand said abrasive element having wongaging means for releasably holdingsaid abrasive element while permitting lateral shifting thereof.

8. A pencil pointer comprising a body member having a chamber thereinopen at its outer end, a post supportedly connected to the bottom ofsaid chamber, a pencil holder supportedly and rotatably mounted on saidpost and provided with a pencil socket disposed radially from the post,a cylindrical inwardly tape-red abrasive element of form retainingthermoplastic material supported at its inner end in said body memberchamber and having an opening in its inner end and being provided at itsinner end with outwardly facing holder member seats, a coil springconnected at its outer end to said post and laterally swingable relativethereto, a holder member for said abrasive element with which the innerend of said spring is in thrust engagement, said holder member beingdetachably engageable with the inner end of said abrasive elementwhereby said abrasive element may be removed and replaced withoutremoving said spring and holder member from said post.

9. A pencil pointer comprising a body member having a chamber thereinopen at its outer end, a post supportedly connected to the bottom ofsaid chamber, a pencil holder supportedly and rotatably mounted on saidpost and provided with a pencil socket disposed radially from the post,a cylindrical inwardly tapered abrasive element supported at its innerend in said body member chamber and having an opening in its inner endand being provided at its inner end with outwardly facing holder memberseats, a coil spring connected at its outer end to said post andlaterally swingable relative thereto, a holder member for said abrasiveelement with which the inner end of said spring is in thrust engagement,said holder member being detachably engageable with the inner end ofsaid abrasive element whereby said abrasive element may be removed andreplaced without removing said spring and holder member from said post.

10. A replaceable abrasive assembly for a pencil pointer with a bodymember having a chamber open at its outer end, and a post disposed insaid chamber and supportedly connected to the bottom of said bodymember, said assembly comprising an outwardly opening truncated conicalabrasive element including a body portion of thermoplastic material,said abrasive element having an inwardly turned flange with an openingtherein in its inner end, said flange having angularly spaced inwardlyopening notches therein, a holder member of thermoplastic materialhaving a plurality of outwardly facing angularly spaced lugs spacedequally and sized to pass through said flange by manual rotation of saidabrasive element, and an annular spring supporting flange on the insideof said holder member, said holder member having a radially extendingupwardly opening notch formed therein and extended into one of said lugsto receive an outwardly turned anchor end on a spring seated againstsaid holder member.

11. A replaceable abrasive assembly for a pencil pointer with a bodymember having a chamber open at its outer end, and a post disposed insaid chamber and supportedly connected to the bottom of said bodymember, said assembly comprising an outwardly opening truncated conicalabrasive element, said abrasive element having an inwardly turned flangewith an opening therein in its inner end, said flange having angularlyspaced inwardly opening notches therein, a holder member having aplurality of outwardly facing angularly spaced lugs spaced equally andsized to pass through said flange by manual rotation of said abrasiveelement, and an annular spring supporting flange on the inside of saidholder member, said holder member having a radially extending upwardlyopening notch formed therein to receive an outwardly turned anchor endon a spring seated against said holder member.

12. A replaceable abrasive assembly for a pencil pointer with a bodymember having a chamber open at its outer end, and a post disposed insaid chamber and supportedly connected to the bottom of said bodymember, said assembly comprising an outwardly facing conical abrasiveelement having a transversely turned flange at its inner end, saidabrasive element having an opening in its inner end, an annular holdermember having a plurality of radially outwardly extending and angularlyspaced coupling members with which said abrasive element may be engagedand disengaged by relative rotation of said abrasive element and holdermember, and a spring seat on said holder member, said flange on saidabrasive ele ment being supportingly engageable with said couplingmembers and having notches therein spaced to pass said coupling members,said holder member having a recess formed therein to non-rotatablyreceive a portion of a spring engaged with said seat.

13. A replaceable abrasive assembly for a pencil pointer with a bodymember having a chamber open at its outer end, and a post disposed insaid chamber and supportedly connected to the bottom of said bodymember, said assembly comprising an outwardly opening annular abrasiveelement having a transversely turned flange at its inner end, saidabrasive element having an opening in its inner end, an annular holdermember having a plurality of radially extending and angularly spacedcoupling members with which said abrasive element may be engaged anddisengaged by relative rotation of said abrasive element and holdermember, and a spring seat on said holder member, said flange on saidabrasive element being supportingly engageable with said couplingmembers and having notches therein spaced to pass said coupling members,said holder member having a recess formed therein to non-rotatablyreceive a portion of a spring engaged with said seat.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,540,320 2/1951Cayo -91 2,785,657 3/1957 Wolfson 12091 3,042,003 7/1962 Cayo l2091FOREIGN PATENTS 489,515 1/ 1954 Italy.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner.

13. A REPLACEABLE ABRASIVE ASSEMBLY FOR A PENCIL POINTER WITH A BODYMEMBER HAVING A CHAMBER OPEN AT ITS OUTER END, AND A POST DISPOSED INSAID CHAMBER AND SUPPORTEDLY CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID BODYMEMBER, SAID ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AN OUTWARDLY OPENING ANNULAR ABRASIVEELEMENT HAVING A TRANSVERSELY TURNED FLANGE AT ITS INNER END, SAIDABRASIVE ELEMENT HAVING AN OPENING IN ITS INNER END, AN ANNULAR HOLDERMEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF RADIALLY EXTENDING AND ANGULARLY SPACEDCOUPLING MEMBERS WITH WHICH SAID ABRASIVE ELEMENT MAY BE ENGAGED ANDDISENGAGED BY RELATIVE ROTATION OF SAID ABRASIVE ELEMENT AND HOLDERMEMBER, AND A SPRING SEAT ON SAID HOLDER MEMBER, SAID FLANGE ON SAIDABRASIVE ELEMENT BEING SUPPORTINGLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID COUPLINGMEMBERS AND HAVING NOTCHES THEREIN SPACED TO PASS SAID COUPLING MEMBERS,SAID HOLDER MEMBER HAVING A RECESS FORMED THEREIN TO NON-ROTATABLYRECEIVE A PORTION OF A SPRING ENGAGED WITH SAID SEAT.